US3235219A - Detachably mountable article support - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 15, 1966 J. E. GREEN 3,235,219

DETACHABLY MOUNTABLE ARTICLE SUPPORT Original Filed Oct. 30, 1963 Jo to Edward Green,

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' Inventor United States Patent 3 235,219 DETACHABLY MOUDlTABLE ARTICLE SUPPORT John Edward Green, Warsop, England, assignor to United-Carr Incorporated, a corporation of Delaware Continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 320,165, Oct. 30, 1963. This application Jan. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 425,717 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Nov. 7, 1962, 42,118/62 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-239) This application is a continuation of the pending application U.S. Serial No. 320,165 filed October 60, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a device adapted to be detachably mounted in an apertured support for securing or supporting an article thereto.

The present invention provides a device formed of resilient synthetic plastics adapted to be detachably mounted in an aperture in a support to secure or support an article, the device comprising a base having a resilient stud projecting from one face for engagement in the aperture in the support, and means extending from the opposite face of the base for engagement by an article to be secured or supported, the stud including a neck portion adjacent the base defined by a shoulder formed with a cam shaped surface facing the base, the device being securable to the support by inserting the stud into the aperture with the base engaging one face of the support and the stud projecting from the opposite face and rotating the device to cause the cam shaped surface to ride over portions of the said opposite face of the support adjacent the aperture to draw the base into clamping engagement with the first mentioned face.

The invention also includes an assembly comprising a cabinet having opposed walls formed with apertures, in each of which a device as defined in the preceding paragraphs is assembled with the channel shaped members facing inwardly of the cabinet, and a shelf supported by the devices by means of rod-like elements projecting from opposite ends of the shelf and nesting in the channel shaped members of the respective devices.

According to one arrangement, the device is adapted to serve as a shelf support in a cabinet, for example, that of a domestic refrigerator, and in this case the said means on the base is adapted to receive and support a rod-like element of a shelf.

To enable the invention to be fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a device according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view;

FIGURE 3 is an end view;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view illustrating the stud attached to a panel; and

FIGURE 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of FIG- URE 2.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the device is adapted to serve as a shelf support and is formed of synthetic plastics material comprising a base 1, having a channel shaped member 2 extending from one face to form a support for a rod-like element of a shelf which is insertable into the projection through the upper open end. The opposite face of the base has an integral stud-like member 3 of oval or elliptical shape in cross section, a portion of the stud at opposed sides being recessed to provide a neck 5 and shoulders 4 spaced from the base. As shown more particularly in FIGURES 1 and 2, the face of the shoulder 4 has a cam-like form and, for example, is of part helical configuration.

The device is adapted to be assembled with wall panel 3,235,219 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 such as a. of a cabinet having a rectangular shaped aperture b which includes opposed side edges c, d defining the width of the aperture which are spaced apart a distance slightly less than the major axis as the overall width of the shoulders 4, 4 of the stud. To assemble the device with the panel, major axis of the stud 3 is presented lengthwise of the aperture b so that it readily passes therethrough. The device is then rotated to position the shoulder 4 over the panel adjacent the edges c, d so that the device is retained in assembly by the base 1 engaging one face of the panel and the shoulder 4 the opposite face. During the rotation of the device the cam-shaped face of the shoulder 4 will ride over the face of the panel and will serve to draw the base '1 against the adjacent face of the panel. It will be understood that in this position the channel shaped projection 2 will be positioned as indicated in FIGURE 3 with the open face of the channel directed upwardly for receiving a rod-like element of a shelf to be supported.

The cam surfaces on the shoulder may be so arranged that a rotation of the shelf support provides a full clamping engagement of the device with the panel.

In order to prevent over-rotation of the shelf support either during its installation or thereafter by forces acting on the shelf it is supporting, the neck portion 5 is alternately provided with arcuated corners 6 and square or flat corners providing stop portions 7. Thus, as best shown in FIGURE 4, a 90 degree rotation of the shelf support in a counterclockwise direction forces the flattened stop portions 7 into flush, abutting engagement with the end walls 0 and d (not shown) thereby preventing overtravel of the shelf support. This positioning of the stop portions 7 insures that the devices will always be rotated to the point where maximum clamping engagement between the shoulders 4, the base 1 and the support a is obtained.

The reader will appreciate that the function of the stop portion 7 in positioning the shelf support for maximum clamping engagement takes on added significance when the shelf support is installed in a support which as available from one side only (this being the usual situation in a refrigerator installation) since the stops 7 will always definitely fix the position in which maximum clamping engagement is obtained.

The devices are particularly adapted as shelf supports and in this case the devices are adapted to be mounted in apertures in opposed walls of a cabinet, such as a domestic refrigerator with the channel shaped members facing inwardly of the cabinet, a shelf being supported by the devices by means of rod-like elements projecting from the opposite ends of the shelf nesting in the channel shaped members of the devices on the opposed Walls.

It will be understood that the device is not limited for use as a shelf support, but may be adapted to secure or support any article or member on an apertured support.

What is claimed is:

A unitary device formed of a resilient synthetic plastic adapted to be detachably mounted in an. aperture in a support to secure or support an article, the device comprising a base having a resilient stud projecting from one face for engagement in an aperture in the support, and means extending from the opposite face of the base for engagement by an article to be secured or supported, the stud including a neck portion, having two long sides and two short sides, adjacent the base partly defined by a shoulder formed with a cam shaped surface facing the base, said neck portion having opposed arcuate corners and having planar surfaces intersecting at substantially sharp angles, the device being securable to a support by inserting the stud into an aperture with the base engaging one face of a support and the stud projecting from the opposite face and rotating the device to cause the cam 2,626,773 1/ 1953 Backman 248-239 shaped surface to ride over portions of the said opposite 2,657,894 11/1953 Sklenar 248239 face of a support adjacent an aperture to draw the base 2,826,388 3/1958 Janos et a1, 248239 into clamping engagement with the first mentioned face 2,909,352 10/ 1959 Van Buren 248 -239 and each of said planar surfaces, formed on each of said 5 2,940,558 6/ 1960 Schleuter 24-221 X short sides, engaging the wall of an aperture. 3,078,064 2/ 1963 Turnbull 248239 References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS UNITED STATES PATEMS 1,112,265 8/1961 Germany.

2,133,781 10/1938 Johnson 248239 10 2,571,641 10/1951 Wing 85--5 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

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